Pickleball paddle

ABSTRACT

A pickleball paddle includes a paddle body and a handle connected to the paddle body. At least one hollow member is disposed in the paddle body. Rolling members that can roll in the hollow member are disposed in the hollow member. By providing the at least one hollow member in the paddle body and the rolling members that can roll in the hollow member, the pickleball paddle can enhance an explosive force for hitting a ball and absorb vibrations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pickleball paddle, and more particularly to a pickleball paddle which can enhance an explosive force for hitting a ball and absorb vibrations.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Pickleball is a paddle sport (similar to a racquet sport) that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. The game started during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Wash. The pickleball court is similar to a doubles badminton court. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, similar to a Wiffle Ball, over a net. A pickleball paddle is shaped like a larger table tennis racket, originally made from wood. In these days, the pickleball paddle may be made from glass fiber, composite materials and graphite fiber.

The sport shares features of other racquet sports, the dimensions and layout of a badminton court, and a net and rules somewhat similar to tennis, with several modifications. Only the serving side may score a point (similar to badminton). The ball is served with an underhand stroke so that contact with the ball is made below waist level (waist is defined as the navel level) in an upward arc. A player may enter the non-volley zone to play a ball that bounces and may stay there to play balls that bounce. The design of pickleball is to enable the players to be active. Pickleball is a patient competitive sport, not depending on strength or brute force. The player must exit the non-volley zone (the first seven feet from the net) before playing a volley, which is beneficial to reduce an excessive smash in front of the net.

In the United States, pickleball has become a regular sport in physical education classes of junior high schools, and has become popular among young people and the elderly. In New York, more than 500 schools have set pickleball as a course. There are many pickleball competitions in the United States every year. The United States has the International Federation of Pickleball.

A conventional pickleball paddle on the market includes a paddle body and a handle connected to the paddle body. In order to make the paddle body have a better shock-absorption effect, the paddle body has an accommodating space. Composite filler is disposed in the accommodating space. The composite filler is usually made of EVA foam. Although it provides a better shock-absorption effect after the composite filler is used, the explosive force for hitting a ball is greatly weakened. Besides, the overall mass of the paddle is increased, which affects the user's experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a pickleball paddle which can enhance an explosive force for hitting a ball and absorb vibrations. The present invention can effectively solve the problem that the existing pickleball paddle has less explosive force for hitting a ball and that the mass of the existing pickleball paddle is large.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

A pickleball paddle comprises a paddle body and a handle connected to the paddle body. At least one hollow member is disposed in the paddle body. Rolling members that can roll in the hollow member are disposed in the hollow member.

Preferably, the paddle body includes a substrate, two face plates, and a frame. The two face plates are superposed and fixed to two sides of the substrate, respectively. The frame is fixedly connected to a circumferential side of the substrate.

Preferably, the substrate is a honeycomb panel having at least one honeycomb hole, and the hollow member is disposed in the honeycomb hole.

Preferably, the hollow member is located on the circumferential side of the substrate and is located on an outer side of the frame.

Preferably, the hollow member is detachably mounted to a circumferential side of the frame.

The invention has obvious advantages and beneficial effects compared with the prior art, in particular, it can be known from the above technical solutions.

By providing at least one hollow member in the paddle body, rolling members that can roll in the hollow member are disposed in the hollow member. When the paddle body hits a ball, the speed of the paddle instantaneously drops. At this time, the rolling members hit the front inner wall of the hollow member from the rear inner wall of the hollow member at a constant speed due to inertia, and the rolling members apply an impact force to the hollow member. Therefore, the hollow member brings the paddle a secondary explosive force, which can enhance the explosive force for hitting the ball greatly. Besides, because the interior of the hollow member is not solid, the rolling members rolling in the hollow member can absorb part of the vibration of the paddle when the paddle hits the ball, providing a shock-absorption function. Furthermore, the rolling members rolling in the hollow member may be configured to adjust the weight of the paddle body.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there is shown a specific structure of a first embodiment of the present invention, comprising a paddle body 10 and a handle 20.

The paddle body 10 includes a substrate 11, two face plates 12, and a frame 13. The two face plates 12 are superposed and fixed to two sides of the substrate 11, respectively. The frame 13 is fixedly or detachably connected to the circumferential side of the substrate 11. The substrate 11, the face plates 12 and the frame 13 are made of a fiber material. The fiber material may be glass fiber or graphite fiber. The frame 13 may be made of metal.

In this embodiment, the substrate 11 is a honeycomb panel having a plurality of honeycomb holes 111. By designing the substrate 11 into a honeycomb panel, the weight of the paddle can be reduced effectively. Besides, because the honeycomb panel has the honeycomb holes 111, the honeycomb holes 111 can absorb part of the vibration of the paddle when the paddle hits a ball, providing a shock-absorption function. A hollow member 14 is disposed in each honeycomb hole 111. Rolling member 15 which can roll in the hollow member 14 are disposed in the hollow member 14. The hollow member 14 may be made of various materials such as plastics. The hollow member 14 may have various shapes, such as a spherical shape, a square shape and the like. The number of the hollow members 14 is not limited thereto. The rolling members 15 may be made of various materials such as metal. The rolling members 15 may have various shapes, such as a spherical shape, a square shape and the like. The number of the rolling members 15 is not limited thereto.

The use of this embodiment is described as follows:

When the user grabs the handle 20 and swings the paddle body 10, the paddle is speeded with certain acceleration by the user, and the rolling members 15 in the hollow member 14 are in close contact with the rear inner wall of the hollow member 14 due to inertia. When the paddle body 10 hits a ball, the speed of the paddle instantaneously drops. At this time, the rolling members 15 hit the front inner wall of the hollow member 14 from the rear inner wall of the hollow member 14 at a constant speed due to inertia, and the rolling members 15 apply an impact force to the hollow member 14. Therefore, the hollow member 14 brings the paddle a secondary explosive force, which can enhance the explosive force for hitting the ball greatly. Besides, because the interior of the hollow member 14 is not solid, the rolling members 15 rolling in the hollow member 14 can absorb part of the vibration of the paddle when the paddle hits the ball, providing a shock-absorption function. Furthermore, the rolling members 15 rolling in the hollow member 14 may be configured to adjust the weight of the paddle body 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates a specific structure of a second embodiment of the present invention. The specific structure of the second embodiment is substantially similar to the specific structure of the foregoing first embodiment with the exceptions described hereinafter.

The hollow member 14 is located on the circumferential side of the substrate 11 and is located in the frame 13.

The use of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, so the use of the second embodiment will not be described in detail herein.

The handle 20 is connected to the paddle body 10. The handle 20 is made of glass fibers or graphite fibers. The handle 20 is adapted for the user to hold the paddle.

The feature of the present invention is described below.

By providing at least one hollow member in the paddle body, rolling members that can roll in the hollow member are disposed in the hollow member. When the paddle body hits a ball, the speed of the paddle instantaneously drops. At this time, the rolling members hit the front inner wall of the hollow member from the rear inner wall of the hollow member at a constant speed due to inertia, and the rolling members apply an impact force to the hollow member. Therefore, the hollow member brings the paddle a secondary explosive force, which can enhance the explosive force for hitting the ball greatly. Besides, because the interior of the hollow member is not solid, the rolling members rolling in the hollow member can absorb part of the vibration of the paddle when the paddle hits the ball, providing a shock-absorption function. Furthermore, the rolling members rolling in the hollow member may be configured to adjust the weight of the paddle body.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pickleball paddle, comprising a paddle body and a handle connected to the paddle body; at least one hollow member being disposed in the paddle body, rolling members that can roll in the hollow member being disposed in the hollow member.
 2. The pickleball paddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the paddle body includes a substrate, two face plates, and a frame; the two face plates are respectively superposed and fixed to two sides of the substrate, and the frame is fixedly connected to a circumferential side of the substrate.
 3. The pickleball paddle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the substrate is a honeycomb panel having at least one honeycomb hole, and the hollow member is disposed in the honeycomb hole.
 4. The pickleball paddle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hollow member is located on the circumferential side of the substrate and is located on an outer side of the frame.
 5. The pickleball paddle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hollow member is detachably mounted to a circumferential side of the frame. 